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Prepositions after adjectives

Worsening of, in, by, rather or over?

Worsening is often used as a noun or adjective. Different prepositions express what changes, where the change happens, or the time period involved.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are used with worsening?

Use worsening of for the thing becoming worse, worsening in for the area or condition affected, worsening by for amount or degree, and worsening over for change through time. Worsening rather is not a standard combination.

There was a worsening of symptoms.
Doctors noticed a worsening in his condition.
Sales are worsening over time.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
worsening of + situation

Naming what becomes worse

Of introduces the thing that is deteriorating.

The report described a worsening of air quality.
2
worsening in + area/condition

Showing where change happens

In can identify the field, place, or condition affected.

There has been a worsening in traffic congestion.
3
worsening by + amount

Describing degree of change

By introduces the amount or rate of deterioration.

Profits are worsening by the month.
4
worsening over + time

Change through time

Over often introduces a period during which something gets worse.

Her symptoms were worsening over the winter.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
worsening of
A worsening of relations worried investors.
deterioration of something
worsening in
Doctors saw a worsening in his breathing.
decline within an area or condition
worsening by
The deficit is worsening by the day.
becoming worse at a certain rate
worsening over
Conditions are worsening over time.
becoming worse during a period
worsening rather
The situation is worsening rather quickly.
rather is an adverb, not a competing preposition

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Treating rather as a preposition

Rather modifies adjectives or adverbs and does not follow worsening as a fixed pattern.

✓ The weather is worsening rather slowly.

Using of after worsening with time periods

Use over for changes through time.

✕ Conditions are worsening of the year. ✓ Conditions are worsening over the year.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. There has been a worsening ___ relations.
2. The pain is worsening ___ time.
3. Doctors noticed a worsening ___ her condition.

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Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

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Frequently asked questions

Is worsening of correct?

Yes. It is common when naming the thing that is deteriorating.

Can worsening be followed by over?

Yes. Over is used for changes happening through time.

Is worsening rather a fixed expression?

No. Rather is an adverb modifying another word, not a standard complement after worsening.

warm-in-up-for-to, with wary of, about or in? weak in, on, at, for or from? wealthy in, of, by, from or with? weary of, from, in, with or about? wedded to, by, for, in or into? weekly for, in, on, with or to? weird for, to, about, in or with? "welcome to" or "welcome in"? "welcoming of" or "welcoming to"? "well-known for" or "well-known in"? well-received by, in, at, among or with?

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